OVERCOMING WORLDLY SYSTEMS Pt.2
1John2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
THE DRIVERS- LUST OF THE FLESH (a)
There are three major things that drive those that are trapped in the worldly system and they are: the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. All sins are categorized under these three drivers. We shall examine the lust of the flesh first. What is it? What does it really mean? We need to understand what lust is first.
Lust is simply inordinate desire. Often, we associate it with sex but it is more than that. Inordinate desires are not limited to sex though it is an integral part of it. One can lust after material things.
What is "flesh"? Flesh refers to human nature that is corrupted by sin. When we talk about " flesh" in christian circles, I normally see some persons touching their bodies referring to it as flesh. No, that's not what the bible is saying. Flesh is just a sinful nature, it refers to all of human tendencies to misbehave and go against God's will.
Therefore, the lust of the flesh refers to the inordinate desires of the human nature that are in contrast to the will of God.
The world is engineered to stir in us fleshly passions and lust. It is a very dangerous thing to still have ties with the world after salvation because the allures of the world ignites sinful flames in the flesh. Sometimes, have you ever wondered why you fall into a sin you thought you have conquered? The simple reason that is happening is because you undermine the power of the flesh and gave room for its expression.
Apostle Paul knew this to be true that is why he said: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" ( Rom13:14). Abstinence from anything that can trigger fleshly lust is the first key to victory.
In 1 Peter 2:11, apostle Peter said: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul". Don't stay around anything or anyone that triggers inordinate desires in you. If you struggle to keep your sanity anytime you shake hands or have body contacts with the opposite sex, simply abstain.
Apostle Paul also told us to "mortify" the flesh. Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live". The word mortify means “to kill or subdue.” In biblical context, to mortify is to subdue the flesh. We get our English words mortuary and mortician from the same Latin root that gives us mortify.
Therefore, mortification of sin / the flesh is the “killing” of sin and the flesh through discipline and self denial. This requires a level of consciousness by saying "no" to whatever the flesh wants. The flesh loves pleasure, sex( illicit fantasies and adventures), food( gluttony), sleep( in excess), social activities( that aren't edifying and glorifying God). You can mortify the flesh through deprivation.
Lastly, we can overcome the lust of the flesh by crucifying it: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in"( Gal2:20). This connotes living like a disciple of Christ- a follower, an imitator.
As long as we are alive, these are the things we have to continually do to live in victory over the flesh. Victory yesterday may not sustain you today, we must deal with the flesh daily.
I receive grace to live in victory over the flesh.